DISTRIBUTION:

Based on an article written by Stefan Naumann, Wolfgang A. Nassig, and Swen Loffler, published in the December 2008 issue of Nachricten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo, the insect originally described as Loepa katinka diversiocellata by Bryk in 1944 and subsequently raised to full species status by Pinratana and Lampe, 1990, is now to be classified as Loepa diffundata, Naumann, Nassig, and Loffler, 2008.

All the specimens posted on this page and on links designated as Loepa diversiocellata are now classified as Loepa diffundata with the following explanation, paraphrased by myself (Bill Oehlke).

Recent study has revealed that the material originally described by Bryk as Loepa katinka diversiocellata and subsequently elevated to full species status is actually Loepa katinka. Hence the name Loepa diversiocellata is not valid. The new name, Loepa diffundata, has been assigned to a distinct species (widely but incorrectly known as Loepa diversiocellata) from Laos, etc..

Loepa diffundata male, aberration, courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

Loepa diffundata male HT, Ban Hin Ngon, Laos,
September 20, 2002, 1000m, courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

Loepa diffundata male, Yunnan, China,
November 2013, courtesy of Alan Marson;
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Concerning the image directly above, which is an adult, reared from eggs sent as L. megacore from Yunnan, I wrote back to Alan, "It is closer to diffundata than to megacore, but I note differences in the shape of the forewing apex and greyer, less brownish spotting in the submarginal area of the hindwing, compared to diffundata, so it might be something new. I will temporarily put it on diffundata page with the larval image you have sent, which also appears close to diffundata, but seems hairier."

Loepa diffundata fourth instar, Yunnan, China,
courtesy of Alan Marson;
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

The Loepa diversiocellata/diffundata moth (wingspan: males: 85-100mm; females: 90-109mm) flies in
northern India,
Nepal,
Bhutan: western (SD), central and eastern at elevations of 1200-1500m, June-July, September (SD)
Laos (TL), Ban Hin Ngon
Myanmar=Burma,
Vietnam: Fan Si Pan, Sapa,
Cambodia,
Thailand: Chiang Mai south to Isthmus of Kra, Doi Pha Hom Pok 2050 Mae Ai, and
China: Yunnan (AM), Tibet, Guangxi.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect this species has multiple broods. Teemu Klemetti has recorded them on the wing in September in Laos. They are reported on the wing in July in Thailand, and in June-July in Bhutan. Cissus, grape and Virginia Creeper would likely prove to be suitable hosts.

Loepa diversiocellata/diffundata (male), Burma, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Loepa diversiocellata/diffundata male (98mm), Fan Si Pan, Sapa, Vietnam, 2000m, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Loepa diversiocellata/diffundata male (95mm), Fan Si Pan, Sapa, Vietnam, 2000m, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Loepa diffundata female AT, northern Laos,
September 20, 2002, 1400-1600m, courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call at night. Males fly into the wind and track the pheromone plume with their sophisticated antennae.

Loepa diversiocellata/diffundata female, Laos, September, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti

Loepa diversiocellata/diffundata pair, Laos, September, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Franz and Julian Renner send the images below of instars 2-5 from Thailand, Doi Pha Hom Pok 2050 Mae Ai / Chiang Mai, courtesy of Thomas Ihle.

With careful training, you can even get them to "sit up pretty" for food.

Loepa diversiocellata/diffundata cocoon, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Visit Alan's outstanding larval images Thailand.

Visit Alan's outstanding egg and larval images (all instars) China.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Cissus Parthenocissus quinquefolia.......

Grape Virginia Creeper

The species name diffundata was chosen for the wide distribution of this species.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Loepa Index

Goto Asian Pacific Saturniidae Directory

Goto Indo Eastern European Saturniidae Directory

Goto Main Saturniidae Index

Support this website and visit other insect sites by clicking flashing butterfly links to left or right.

On my home computer only: notes on Saturniidae of Bhutan by Ronald Brechlin (in English) as published in Entomo-Satsphingia 2 (1): 47 – 55 (March 2009)

The actual hardcopy editions of Entomo-Satsphingia may be purchased via the link to the left.

NEVA_29_149_NAUMANN_NAESSIG.PDF